I am pretty sure I started this life as an artist from birth . Though I was mostly unaware of it until recently. Yet there has always been a part of me devoted to creation. A sculptor actively expressing itself beyond my control.
My father turned me loose on some wood when I was younger and I made a series of airplanes from two boards nailed together like crosses. These are my earliest memories of the urge to create. I made five or six of them before I ran out of material. I think I was around three or four years old. The image of the plane and the joy of creation have remained as one of my strongest memories of early childhood. Thanks Dad.
As I grew older I spent time freely exploring the field and wooded area adjacent to my house. There in the woods I built monuments of sticks, vines and leaves. I made them for others to stumble upon. I imaged that amidst the organic chaos of the woods these creations would be discovered like ancient runes. I hoped they would illicit a reaction of pure wonder and inspiration. I think mostly they went unnoticed but I never held an attachment to the finished product just satisfied with the process. I even destroyed some myself as did others. This inspired me to make them subtler and less noticeable. As the creations blended into the environment more they lasted longer and could be enjoyed longer.
I remember a grouping of sticks tied together with a vine in a simple bundle that resembled wings. I had spent an hour throwing a rock with the vine tied to it trying to get in over a branch that was twenty feet up. After nearly being knocked out by the rocks return to earth I finally managed to get the vine over the limb. I pulled the angel up in to place, climbed up the tree a few feet and tied off the loose end with a ridiculous amount of wrapping and knotting. That sculpture lasted until the forest was cut down for a housing project. Some ten years later.
Oddly coinciding with the event that pointed me in the direction toward realizing my career as an artist. Which I will eventually get to in this Blog.
For now I am launching this blog as a way to reach out. A way to leave that bit of sculpture in the woods and allow you to stumble upon it. I would love to hear your comments, related to what I am saying or whatever you would like to say. In fact, you can leave any thing you want here aside from the obscene and explicit. Please feel free to express yourself.
My father turned me loose on some wood when I was younger and I made a series of airplanes from two boards nailed together like crosses. These are my earliest memories of the urge to create. I made five or six of them before I ran out of material. I think I was around three or four years old. The image of the plane and the joy of creation have remained as one of my strongest memories of early childhood. Thanks Dad.
As I grew older I spent time freely exploring the field and wooded area adjacent to my house. There in the woods I built monuments of sticks, vines and leaves. I made them for others to stumble upon. I imaged that amidst the organic chaos of the woods these creations would be discovered like ancient runes. I hoped they would illicit a reaction of pure wonder and inspiration. I think mostly they went unnoticed but I never held an attachment to the finished product just satisfied with the process. I even destroyed some myself as did others. This inspired me to make them subtler and less noticeable. As the creations blended into the environment more they lasted longer and could be enjoyed longer.
I remember a grouping of sticks tied together with a vine in a simple bundle that resembled wings. I had spent an hour throwing a rock with the vine tied to it trying to get in over a branch that was twenty feet up. After nearly being knocked out by the rocks return to earth I finally managed to get the vine over the limb. I pulled the angel up in to place, climbed up the tree a few feet and tied off the loose end with a ridiculous amount of wrapping and knotting. That sculpture lasted until the forest was cut down for a housing project. Some ten years later.
Oddly coinciding with the event that pointed me in the direction toward realizing my career as an artist. Which I will eventually get to in this Blog.For now I am launching this blog as a way to reach out. A way to leave that bit of sculpture in the woods and allow you to stumble upon it. I would love to hear your comments, related to what I am saying or whatever you would like to say. In fact, you can leave any thing you want here aside from the obscene and explicit. Please feel free to express yourself.
Thank you.
Curtis
